THE fate of the two Tory leadership contenders is now in the hands of 300,000 ordinary party members.

THE fate of the two Tory leadership contenders is now in the hands of 300,000 ordinary party members.

David Cameron and David Davis were shortlisted by Tory MPs - with Tatton MP George Osborne backing Mr Cameron and David Davis' supporters including Graham Brady (Altrincham and Sale West), Sir Nicholas Winterton (Macclesfield) and Ann Winterton (Congleton).

But the final decision on who takes over from Michael Howard next month lies with grassroots Tories and ballot papers were being sent out today.

Tory voters got a chance to see both men in action last night when they took part in a televised debate on BBC1's Question Time.

Many observers at Westminster thought it was a draw, with Mr Davis making up lost ground, but the Davis campaign team claimed he won on points after suggesting that Mr Cameron was aping Tony Blair.

Applause

"The British public have seen three Blair parliaments. They are sick of spin and the era of spin is coming to an end. This is absolutely the worst time for the Conservative Party to imitate Tony Blair," said Mr Davis to applause from the TV studio audience.